Boxed Set: Intercepted by Love (The Complete Collection): Books One - Book Six (42 page)

“Oh, Caaade!” she cried in a long, drawn out groan. Her hips jerked, and her lush breasts jiggled as she flailed her head from side to side, and the flush rose over her entire body.

Cade licked his lips and took one last taste of her juices. He’d just ripped her one hell of an orgasm, and he was the luckiest motherfucker in all of history. But his cock raged and roared with frustration, and Andie’s fingers were soon on his fly, unzipping his jeans. She grabbed at him, her eyes ripe with passion as she helped him remove his pants.

“There’s no love like you, Cade.” Her words flung away his restraint, and when she spread her legs below him and pulled his hips, he plunged in.

Her wet heat hugged him, surrounding him with love, acceptance, and inclusion. He would never be left out again, never be the little boy no one wanted. She felt so good and perfect, and as he moved in perfect rhythm with her, he lost all his ability to think.

She grabbed the sides of his head and pulled his lips to hers as he kept himself propped on his elbows. Her legs wrapped around his hips and she arched and bucked, loving him like no one had ever done before.

Soon, her walls tightened around him, wet and luscious, embracing him, and she cried out his name, moaning with urgent gasps as the entire world throbbed and pulsed, slinging a pure rush of ecstasy from his cock to his brain.

She gripped him and quaked while he thrust his love deep into her. Wave after wave of pleasurable sensation swept over him, and in one long blissful moment, he knew he would never be abandoned again.

Cade stood by himself on the sidelines as he watched his teammates rush onto the field. The coaching staff spoke into headsets, and cameramen jostled up and down the field. His agent, Rob, was standing next to Coach Settles, but instead of viewing the action, he was on the phone.

Why did he bother hanging out on the field if all he was going to do was yak on the phone? Cade crossed his arms and stared at the field in front of him. Instead of seeing the play progress or hearing the slap of the shoulder pads or the grunt of the linebackers, his mind reeled back to the Super Bowl. He’d watched the videos over and over, wondering what he could have done differently, or whether he should have handed the ball off to Devon despite the short stumble. Then it would have been Devon’s fault for losing yardage. Devon was the golden boy son of the owner who never took anything seriously. He’d joked about fumbling in the end zone and running the wrong direction.

Follow the money.
He’d gone over his mother’s bank statements. They were full of small deposits, fifty dollars here, eighty dollars there. Had they been cash deposits? Most likely. If so, who was giving her money and what was it for? Babysitting or housekeeping? Or something worse—like dealing?

The roar of the crowd drew everyone’s attention to the playing field. Todd was going deep into the end zone, a pass to wide receiver Joey Monzon. Touchdown! The Flash was ahead in the first quarter, and the home crowd was lapping it up.

The players ambled off the field, slapping each other and congratulating Todd and Joey while the kicker pulled on his helmet to take the field for the extra point.

“Good throw,” Cade said, tapping Todd on the shoulder pad.

The quarterback spit out his mouth guard and smiled. “Yep, all that conditioning’s paying off. Never felt better.”

Rob, their agent, gave Todd a fist bump and hooked his arm over Cade’s shoulder. “Think of the buzz with both of you competing for the starting spot. I’m going to put the thumbscrews on Dick to sweeten your contracts, both of you.”

“Mine better be twice his.” Todd knocked his head back and took a drink of water.

“Hey, Prescott,” Coach Settles yelled. “Out on the field to hold for the extra point.”

Todd spewed water all over Cade and slapped his thighs, laughing. “Good job, Cade. Don’t flub up the hold.”

Cade plugged in his mouth guard and ignored his rival. It was Coach Settles’ philosophy that everyone played in every pre-season game. Trying to appear unconcerned with Todd’s jibe, Cade loosened his shoulders and jogged onto the field to take the snap.

He caught the ball and placed it point down on the turf as the kicker stepped toward the ball for the routine kick.

Ow! A sharp pain seared through his left hand when the kicker’s foot tore through his fingertips. The ball wobbled and was blocked by the defense.

Cade’s hand throbbed in pain. What had just happened? Was that on purpose?

Apparently. The kicker, Carmine Carmona, swaggered off the field and high-fived Todd. It figured, they were from the same neighborhood. Meanwhile, the fans booed and jeered at the loss of a point in a game that didn’t matter.

“You okay?” The team doctor rushed to examine Cade’s hand.

“He kicked my hand instead of the ball. He never misses.” Cade winced as the doctor probed his fingers.

“You might have a break here. I saw it. The hold looked perfect. We better get this X-rayed.”

“Hey, sorry about that.” Carmine swaggered toward them. “I must have slipped when I planted my foot wrong. You’re not hurt, are you?”

Behind him, Todd grinned. “Looks like Daddy’s boy’s out for the season.”

# # #

Andie stood by Roxanne as she struggled to change Bret’s diaper. The woman’s fingernails had to be at least an inch long each, and she used them to dangle the diaper wipe, afraid to touch anything icky.

She’d decided to miss the game since Cade wasn’t playing and Roxanne needed supervision. Both she and Cade were worried about leaving the baby alone with her, especially when Andie’s mother decided to go back to Pinball Alley for a playoff party. She really did deserve a day off.

“He’s going to get a rash if you don’t wipe off all the poop,” Andie said. “Cade usually gives his butt a warm water wash after number two to keep it clean.”

“Well, I’m not Cade. Maybe you can show me what he does?”

“Gladly, but you’re going to have to trim those nails so you don’t hurt his precious little butt.” Andie picked up the wiggling baby and smiled at the little boy’s sweet face.

“This wasn’t part of the deal.” Roxanne crossed her arms. “Cade’s mother was supposed to do all the dirty work. Who told her to go and get high?”

“Apparently someone sent her a gift box. You were around, weren’t you? Did you see anyone?” Andie warmed the water in the sink, and held Bret like a puppy dog, sticking his behind into the stream of water.

“You can’t pin this one on me.” Roxanne glared at her in the mirror. “You think I have the kind of money to buy drugs for her?”

Strange. How did she know the heroin was high grade stuff?

“Well, if I were you, I’d be careful who I let take care of my baby. This little guy’s so precious. Aren’t you sweetie?” Andie shut off the faucet and dabbed him dry with a towel. “Next, we put diaper rash ointment on him.”

“You guys are doing just fine. Since you came along, I figured Cade wasn’t going to marry me, so why should I care about his baby?”

“Uh, Roxanne, the baby isn’t his, and he’s taking way better care of Bret than you are.”

Roxanne’s eyes widened, and she pointed her fingernail at Andie. “Who told you? Cade?”

“I was there when you two had that big argument. Remember when you stormed out of the kitchen?” Andie gave Bret a kiss on his tummy and laid him on the changing table.

“You’re not supposed to know the deal, but since you’re in on it, let me tell you, I was coerced into having this baby. Yes, forced.”

“Oh, give me a break.” Andie wiped cream onto Bret’s behind and fastened the tapes of his diaper. “You didn’t have to even tell whoever that rich guy was that you were pregnant, unless you wanted money. I bet that was it, wasn’t it? They paid you off to have the baby, and now both of you want to dump it on Cade. You slept with all these guys before deciding which one would be the one you’d nail by faking the paternity tests.”

“That’s not how it went down.” Roxanne crossed her arms and shrugged. “Since you don’t know, I’m not telling.”

“Whatever, like I’d believe you.” Andie dressed the little baby and cuddled him. “If you want to sign away your parental rights, go ahead.”

“Actually, since you love my son so much, I’m going to need a little incentive.”

Grrr … What a money hungry, greedy witch. No wonder both Gollie and Red hated her. Andie had a glimpse of the witch wearing furs—precious pelts cut from animals. Where would that have been?

She turned away from Roxanne and exited the bedroom, barely able to control herself. What she wouldn’t give to rip her a couple of new orifices, and that was putting it politely. Cade was way too naïve thinking Rox would move back in and take care of her own baby.

“Well? What’s he worth to you?” Roxanne’s heels clickety clacked over the river rock floor in the great room.

A lightbulb flashed, and Andie twirled around so fast she almost tripped. “I might have a job for you. He’ll be much easier to take care of than this little guy. I can’t pay you, but I promise you the reward would be excellent and well worth your time.”

“Oh, really? And who’s this guy that’s so easy?”

“He’s really easy, Rox, and easy on the eyes, and well, ahem.” Andie licked her lips and faux-sighed, trying to look dreamy. “He’s ultra hot but needs some tender, loving nursing care.”

“How old is he?” Rox’s eyebrows narrowed over her forehead. “I’ve been there, done that, sick and tired of being pawned off to old, rich geezers.”

“Geezers are more lucrative, I’d say. But, bless your little heart, this man’s only twenty-six years old.”

“Who is he? Is he famous?” Rox leaned toward Andie with a hungry look in her eye.

“He’s an actor, and Cade broke his jaw. He’s also my husband, so the way I see it, let’s trade duties. I’ll take care of Bret, and you take care of Declan Reed.”

“Declan Reed!!!” Roxanne’s shrill squeal drew goose pimples down Andie’s arms and shoulders. “I
love
Declan Reed. I didn’t know he’s your husband.”

“Sadly, he is, and he’s still in love with me.” Andie sighed and swiped her hand over her forehead in a resigned fashion. Maybe she was getting good at acting, too.

“What do you want me to do?” Roxanne took Andie by the elbow and led her to the sunken living room. “Let’s sit and strategize.”

Andie balanced herself on the plush couch and stood Bret in her lap, bouncing him gently. “I need you to get Declan to sign my divorce papers and in exchange, I’ll adopt Bret and take him off your hands.”

“I don’t know.” Rox picked at her decorated fingernails. “It depends on how much you can donate to my Kickstarter campaign. I have a new line of clothing I want to launch.”

“It should be enough that I take Bret off your hands. After all, I bet the rich man isn’t paying or he would have sent a nanny. Besides, Declan signed a big contract with Silver Studios. If I don’t get that divorce soon, it’ll be part of community property and I might get saddled with his riches.”

“Oh my!” Roxanne’s eyes gleamed like shiny silver saucers.

Andie could swear she saw dollar signs rolling in her eyes like spinners on a pinball machine.

“I know, huh? So, it’s up to you to rescue me from Declan’s money. I know you can do it.” Andie placed a consoling hand on Roxanne’s thin arm.

“There has to be a catch.” The stick-thin woman chewed on her lips. “What do I have to do? You said he needed nursing care.”

Andie lifted her chin to look down on the scheming witch. “Of course, there’s a catch. Declan wants me to nurse him back to health. He wants me to live at his place and tend to him. How can I do that when I need to take care of poor little Bret here? You know how he gets colicky and won’t sleep all night? And then there’s the projectile vomiting. He might be little, but boy, can he spew. Couple that with the explosive diarrhea he gets on a daily basis, I’m doing laundry around the clock.”

Roxanne’s mouth dropped in horror. “What does Declan need?”

“Not much. His jaw is wired shut because Cade punched him out for being a dick, and he needs someone to prepare his favorite foods, grind it into a puree and feed it to him with a giant syringe.”

“That’s all? Sounds too easy.”

“Yep, it is, except the big drawback is …”

“What? I knew there was a catch.”

“He can’t kiss and give head.” Andie shook her head in a sad and wistful manner. “Six long weeks. I’m not sure you can handle that.”

“Of course I can. There are other ways …” Roxanne wiggled her skinny shoulders. “So, if I get this right. You want me to feed Declan through a syringe and convince him to sign the divorce papers.”

“Yep, and also get him to sign an affidavit that he’ll never sue Cade for his injuries. After all, if he hadn’t had his jaw wired shut, he would never ever have met you, Roxanne.”

“You’re talking, girl.” Roxanne flipped her hand, limp wristed. “You just give me the papers and directions to his house and I’m on it.”

“I don’t have the papers, but you can go online and fill it out. I don’t want any of his money.” Andie shuddered as if the money were a big pile of steamy dog poop. “Just make sure it’s no fault, no exchange of assets, and done as speedily as possible.”

“You got it, sis.” Rox tapped Andie’s shoulder and stood on her spindly heels. “I’ll also get the adoption papers ready for you to sign.”

“I get a baby and you get an actor, what a great deal.” Andie whooped. “I knew me and you make a great team.”

“Woohoo! I can’t wait to tell my brother, Rob. I get free access to his lawyers, so I can make this happen. You’re the best, and I wish you and Cade many happy returns.”

She kissed Andie on her way out, but forgot all about the sweet, little blue-eyed baby in Andie’s arms.

Andie shut the door as Red and Gollie growled their farewells.

“Is it just me, or did you two smell a skunk?”

Broken, and out for six weeks, at least. Cade swallowed the pain killers and watched the doctor buddy tape his pinkie to his ring finger. Granted it could have been worse, but the thought that his own teammates were gunning to injure him without any repercussions galled him.

If this was the culture of the LA Flash, he wanted no part of it. Cade texted a message to Rob.
I want out of the Flash. Free agent. Try to get me a deal with the New York Warthogs.

He didn’t know how it would all work out, but one thing was sure, Andie would not be able to stick around Hollywood for long. She missed her father, despite her brave face about making him proud of playing Michal in that farce of a project Ronaldo was running. Sooner or later, the movie project would be cancelled, and Andie would have to make a decision.

Cade returned to the football field and took his seat on the bench. He wasn’t about to miss the rest of the game. Maybe the third-string rookie quarterback would outperform Todd and get the starting dibs. Someone had to knock that glory hog down a peg or two, although to be fair, if Dick had played favorites, then Todd had every right to complain.

Rob took a seat next to him and pointed to his hand. “Broken?”

“Just a finger. It could have been a lot worse, torn ligaments and my entire hand—career ending.”

“Got your message.” He shifted in his seat. “I thought I already told you. It’s unlikely any other team would pick you up.”

“Not true. I know I didn’t do anything wrong.” Cade bristled at the implications. “Why is it so important for Dick to pin this on me? I’ve been over the videos in detail. Devon screwed up, and everyone made me believe I was the one who threw for the end zone on a whim.”

“You did. No one made you do it. You could have thrown an incomplete.”

“That’s not how it works. The refs would have gotten me for intentional grounding.”

“Still, a penalty’s better than an interception.” Rob stroked his mustache. “You’re in a shit situation. You’re lucky Dick’s keeping you on. It’s why I worked the deal with the baby. Of all my players, you needed it the most, and luckily you and Dick resemble each other enough to pull it off.”

“You know what?” Cade patted his knees and stood. “I don’t need your rescuing. Consider yourself fired. I’m getting another agent.”

“Good luck. No one’s going to touch you with a twenty-foot pole.” Rob sneered, his eyes blazing with hatred.

Cade turned away. What the hell was that about? What had he ever done to Rob?

# # #

Andie and her mother were already asleep by the time Cade returned to his house. Where was Bret? He peeked into the room Roxanne was supposed to stay in and found it empty. No suitcase, nothing.

Red and Gollie followed him from room to room as he searched for his son. A spear of adrenaline made its way down to his gut. What if Roxanne had taken Bret? What if she’d had a change of heart and decided she and Dick should raise the baby together?

He patted his male Irish Setter, the one who hated Roxanne the most. “You wouldn’t have let her take Bret, would you?”

Red only wagged his tail while Gollie lay on the floor, spreading her legs and begging for a tummy rub—just like the way Andie’s mother had described her—gullible and too affectionate.

What if Andie’s mother were right and he was taking advantage of her? After all, Andie hadn’t moved to California to be a baby’s substitute mother, and he had waylaid Andie when she first arrived, pretending to be the limo driver and practically kidnapping her to stay at his place.

But then, this entire
Love Lives of King David
movie was a farce—something Dick funded to make him take on the baby. What sucked was his so-called buddy Ronaldo going along with it. Had that guy ever truly produced a real movie or mini-series?

His parents were Hollywood icons, but all Ronaldo had done was a cancelled motorcycle reality show. His only other claim to fame was crashing on the motorcycle racing circuit and pissing off the engineer who built the specialized bikes—to the point he refused to make him another one, no matter how much money he was offered.

Cade swallowed his frustrations and tip-toed up the spiral staircase. His baby had to be somewhere in this house. Why had he trusted Roxanne? What if Andie went with her mother to Pinball Alley and Roxanne was left alone with Bret?

The door was locked. He could jimmy it, but with his luck, Pam would wake up and accuse him of stealing into the room while two women slept.

Cade sat on the landing against the door and wrapped his arms around the two dogs. “Is Bret in there? Can you tell me?”

They wiggled in his embrace and licked his face while he texted Roxanne.
Do you have Bret? Let me know.

He couldn’t very well call the police on her. She was, after all, Bret’s mother.

Sighing, Cade lay on the carpet and made himself comfortable. Bret would be awake in two hours for his night feeding and his cries would wake him if he were ensconced in there with Andie and his mother. Otherwise, he would have to trust Roxanne with her own baby. At least she wasn’t a junkie.

# # #

Cade woke with a start. Sunlight streamed through the skylight overhead, and his two dogs were missing. The door to the bedroom Andie and her mother shared was wide open.

“Andie? Pam?” Cade peered into the room and his jaw dropped to the floor. They were gone. Why didn’t they wake him?

He picked up the note from the middle of the bed. It was in Andie’s handwriting.

We took Bret to church. You were sleeping so soundly we didn’t want to wake you. Roxanne moved in with Declan. I should have good news soon. Andie.

Cade re-read the note. Unbelievable. Why would Roxanne move in with Declan? He texted Andie,
I have to go somewhere. Thanks for taking care of Bret. Talk later.

When she didn’t reply, he glanced at the time. Nine forty-five. She was probably inside the church and had silenced her phone.

He’d have to trust them to look after Bret. He had to visit his sister and find out what she knew about the gambling mess. As it stood, he’d hardly have any time left before visiting hours closed at the prison. What a shit show.

Four and a half hours later, he pulled up to the Valley State Prison in Chowchilla with only half an hour to spare.

His sister, Joanie, was two years younger than him. Her father had been one of a long list of drug dealers his mother had slept with—another mystery man who supposedly had ties to organized crime.

He stepped into the visiting room and faced his sister across the security divider, forcing a smile on his face at his sister’s sullen appearance. She was of mixed blood, part Asian, although she also had no clue who her father was.

She shuffled to the counter across the divide from him and picked up the phone receiver. “What d’ya want?”

“Just checking up on my baby sister,” Cade drawled lazily, not giving her any indication of how anxious he was inside.

“You springing me from this joint?”

“Maybe. But you gotta tell me who you took the bets for.”

“Can’t.” She snorted.

“They treating you okay in here?” He raised his eyebrows and glanced around.

“Sure, I’ll be out on parole in a few months.”

“Still … you got enough spending money?”

She narrowed her eyes and flared her nostrils, leaning forward. “What do you want?”

“Can’t I visit with my baby sister?” He folded his arms and cradled the phone receiver between his shoulder and ear. “You know, Mom’s in rehab again.”

Joanie’s mouth gaped and she slapped her hand on the counter. “What’s wrong with her? Why can’t she keep clean?”

“This time it wasn’t her fault.”

“Of course it’s never her fault.” Joanie sneered. “She’s a master at putting the blame elsewhere.”

“True, but she overdosed. Almost died. If I hadn’t gotten there. I put her in rehab again.”

“What?” His sister shook her head. “Nuh uh, I don’t believe you. Mom’s street smart. She knows exactly how much to dose herself with. She’s always said to go a little lower than she’d like to. Besides, the stuff on the street’s shit these days. Nothing like the so-called good ol’ days, according to her.”

“Apparently someone wanted to give her a real high like the good ol’ days. You ever hear of packets marked ‘HEA?’”

“What the hell is that? I’ve heard of ‘DOA,’ but what’s it supposed to mean, happily ever after?”

“Whatever it was, it almost killed her. According to the police, it’s expensive stuff.” Cade watched his sister carefully.

She flinched and blew out a breath. Yep. She definitely had suspicions. For some reason, the kingpins behind her money laundering scheme wanted to get rid of his mother.

“I can’t believe it.” Joanie threw her hand up and wiped her hair back. “Do you think Mom’s safe at the rehab facility?”

He pursed his lips and shook his head. “It might be a glitzy place by the beach, but you know how lax security is. If we don’t find out who’s behind this, they could try again.”

“Dick.” His sister’s lip sneered. “I mean, what a bunch of dicks.”

“Oh, really? Are you telling me Dick Davis is behind this?”

His sister’s eyes widened, and she covered her mouth, shaking her head. Without answering him, she hung up the phone receiver and turned away from the booth.